Salford’s new District Commander is committed to adapting alongside the city
Chief Superintendent Neil Blackwood has been appointed as Salford’s new district commander, bringing extensive experience from his policing career, including roles in Oldham and leadership in Operation Vulcan. He aims to enhance community safety, victim safeguarding (especially for vulnerable women and girls), and partnership engagement through structured PACT meetings. Blackwood is committed to adapting policing strategies to Salford's growth and reducing criminal activity, inspired by his past successes in tackling serious crime.
Chief Superintendent Neil Blackwood has assumed command as Salford’s new district commander, pledging to use his two decades of crime-fighting experience to keep residents safe and confident in their daily lives.
The veteran officer, who began his career in Oldham in 2002, brings extensive expertise from tackling serious organized crime across Greater Manchester. His most recent achievement leading Operation Vulcan saw the seizure of nearly 1,050 tonnes of counterfeit goods and the closure of 216 shops in North Manchester’s notorious ‘counterfeit street’ - an initiative that gained worldwide recognition for its innovative problem-solving approach.
“I am thrilled to be at Salford, it’s like a gift to be serving as its district commander,” Blackwood said. “I have done a lot of work all throughout the district, so I know the area quite well and am excited to be able to use my experience and connections to bring a mini-Vulcan to Salford to ensure there is less criminal behaviour on the streets.”
Blackwood’s leadership priorities include strengthening victim safeguarding, with particular focus on protecting vulnerable women and girls, while fostering closer ties between communities and police partners through structured PACT meetings. He emphasized that Salford’s continuous growth demands an equally adaptive police force ready to meet emerging challenges.
“Salford is a city that is continually growing and developing, it is vital that we as a police force can develop and adapt alongside. Myself, and each of the officers in my team, are more than prepared to step up and face the challenges that are presented to us. I am committed to ensuring that we are fit to serve the city appropriately,” he declared.
Source: Read original article